Live in 3-2-1...

Yes.  That is Nathan sitting in a radio recording booth.

No.  He has not changed professions -- though I do think he has a voice that commands respect, at least when he's on the phone with customer service.

I have to say, 24 hours later and I'm still shaking my head that we are going to be on the radio.  I mean, who are we?

Well, it's not really who WE are.  But who HE is.  HE surprises us with the doors he opens to share His Good News as well as regularly reminds me that being a 'missionary' means wearing a variety of hats (some of which really stretch us!) -- and that this calling on our lives is far from boring!

So let me back up the story a little bit and share how this unfolded... 

The day after we returned to Albania I opened my e-mail to find a message with the subject matter: "Invitation for a radio interview..."

What? Maybe it's the jetlag...

I opened the message, rubbed my eyes and proceeded to read an introduction from a woman in the city of Lezhe, about one hour north of our village.  She was familiar with Reni's story prior to him joining our family.  After a visit some time later to his former orphanage --I'll call her 'MK' for short -- was happy to hear that he had found a family with us, learning our names from a photo book we gifted the orphanage and which the Sisters put in their visitor's room.  MK then "googled" us and found this blog.

MK described herself as active in promoting pro-life work in Albania as well as adoption through a radio program she hosts on Albania's one Catholic radio station.  She wanted to open this fall season with a positive story of a real-life family who had chosen to adopt children with special needs.

The kids were pretty fascinated with the acoustical sponge on the studio walls.

She sent us the questions in advance, after we set a date and time to meet.

Monday afternoon we picked Reni up from Kopesht and drove up to Lezhe, meeting MK at a taxi stand.  From there we drove a short distance to the radio studio.

The kids and I with MK and B, the audio engineer for our session.

The kids were fantastic.  I must admit I was a bit worried about them staying in another room, not interrupting us for one straight hour.  We supplied them with plenty of snacks, juice, activity books and digital devices (and maybe a firm reminder that nothing short of blood flow were grounds for knocking on the door).

Here are some of the questions she asked us during the interview:

• Before your marriage, have you ever thought of becoming adoptive parents? Why and how has this become your mission in life?
• You knew, beforehand, that Ellie and Reni are children who need special care. Why did you choose specifically them?
• How has God worked through your children in your life and in your soul? How has your life changed through them?
• What is your message for those parents who have got the ‘surprising news’ that they’re becoming parents of children with special needs?

Our interview lasted one hour, with MK embarking on the big job of translating our answers between asking us questions.  The interview was captured in Lezhe but actually recorded live up in Shkodra where it will be cleaned up before broadcasting next week.

Of course, after it was all finished I thought of a few things I would have like to include, but we trust that the Holy Spirit helped guide our answers, feeble as some of them may have felt.  Thank you to those of you who prayed!

We praise God for the opportunity to share His story in us, but more importantly, for a platform to share the Gospel, albeit in the most unexpected of formats.

Following the interview, we visited the home of a family from MK's parish who have adopted two children in the last 3-4 years. They are truly pioneers!  Albanian domestic adoption has only recently become slightly more accepted (a politician and his wife adopted within the last year or two and made the news), and among those who adopt, they usually only adopt one time and keep their child's "adoption" status a family secret.  It's difficult to explain the deeply held cultural beliefs about the importance of maintaining bloodlines, as well as convey the genuine fears many carry in a shame-based (or honor) society/culture about adopting 'bad blood.'  The orphaned child is considered to carry 'bad luck' (why else would it be without a family?) so to adopt an abandoned child is to assume great risk of bringing bad luck into one's family.  In light of this, you can understand why MK considered this couple so remarkable, describing our new friends as "adoption evangelists," eager to end the stigma and share the joy with their friends and neighbors.

We know that one radio interview will likely not change hearts overnight, but we pray that with our testimony, as well as the testimony of others, public perception may begin to change.  And even more so, we hope the analogy of adoption will give individuals a picture through which they can better understand what God has done for us, bringing us into a larger, multi-ethnic family through the shared blood of Christ.

Listen On-line at RadioMaria.al

Monday, Sep. 28 @ 2:00 PM or 5:00 PM EST

Hittin' the books again

It was a long summer break!

Of course, the kids didn't mind one bit.

Until it came time to pull the books back out.  The brains and fingers were a bit rusty, but we're getting there.  It helps that the temps have finally fallen into comfortable levels again.

Many of you have asked how Reni is doing in school.

He came home every day declaring he didn't learn a thing. (ha ha!)

After school he is a bit of a chatterbox -- grateful, I'm sure to be free to communicate in English again.

Last night he brought home 'homework.'

"Easy, peasey," he declared. "Except for the two r's thing."

(double r's are trilled).

Today after school he said it was a good day.  We are making progress. 

I'm confident he is learning more than he thinks.

Red, Yellow, and Green make...

Saturday was a big morning at kids club!  It was the day we launched AWANA!

Below the three teams sport their wristbands to their team color...

By the time we reached the morning's midpoint, we had a total of 28 different kids.

In addition to a new program, we have a new Bible teacher, too!  Eta had to leave us to continue her education, but she referred a wonderful young woman whom we already love.  She brings a great energy and passion and seems to be a natural teacher.  Would you pray right now for Eniola as she prepares each week to bring lessons from the Word for the kids?

Below, we moved outside for the game time around our small version of the AWANA game circle.  It was small, but it worked!

I love the opportunities it gives some of our 'big kids' to lead their younger peers.

One of the differences of the international AWANA program to what you may know from the States is a lack of uniforms and books.  This makes the program much more affordable, though we may invest in some colored handkerchiefs or bandanas.

We have a few kinks to work out, but over all, I think it went remarkably well.

The verse for this past week?  2 Timothy 3:16, the same verse Ellie memorized for the week in home school.  Now she'll learn it in Shqip too!

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness...

I gjithë Shkrimi është i frymëzuar nga Perëndia dhe i dobishëm për mësim, bindje, ndreqje dhe për edukim me drejtësi...

Later Saturday night we hosted our friends, the Schranks, for supper.  They were instrumental in bringing AWANA to Albania last spring and having the curriculum translated into Albanian.  As far as they know, we were the first site to launch the program in Albania!  Pray for the other 20 or so churches who will be starting clubs in their respective towns and neighborhoods soon, that it would be a valuable tool in hiding God's word in children's hearts for true transformation.

On Coming Back and Goodbyes

We've not even been back a full two weeks, but it feels like a month.

A friend of mine who recently made a similar transition described crossing cultures sort of like walking into a different dimension.  Right now I can't argue with her analogy. Judging motives, understanding rationales ... they require a different filter to comprehend. Things feel warped. Even the same temperature 'feels' different.

Those differences are like virtual speed bumps that shake the whole mind and body to remind us to slow down and shift to a different way of thinking and living.  If you know they are coming, or if there is a warning sign ahead, you can adjust your speed and minimize their impact.  If you hit them in the dark at full speed with no warning, watch out.  Someone's going to get bruised.

I think the surprise for me this time was that the speed bumps were still a 'surprise.'  I was supposed to be familiar with this road. I wasn't supposed to have 'forgotten' so quickly that speed bumps were just around the corner.  This was supposed to be our 'home', but I had already stood motionless in my kitchen trying to remember where to find a cereal spoon.  One doesn't usually forget where they keep their silverware.

Just three brief months away.

We are repeatedly asked about our summer in America.  How does one answer that question?

It was good.
I forgot how much it cost to eat out.
Our nieces and nephews (though bigger) still remembered us.
Air conditioning is the bomb.
Sweet corn is even better than I remembered it.
Did you know that Oreos are now available in like 25 different flavors and varieties?
And oh how we miss our home church.

But after about 5 weeks in the States, I was ready to return to Albania.

Then I got subtly lulled back into our old way of life.  I could drive a car again and experience independence in old, familiar ways.
I could ask nuanced questions and share my thoughts exactly the way I wanted to without having to pick and choose my words from a small pool of known vocabulary.
I could do all of my shopping with a minimum of stops, no stress about parking, and 99% of the time I could find the product I wanted in stock, on the shelves.

Oh, and did I mention air conditioning?  And soft, fluffy towels?

So after the heart ache of some goodbyes that are probably the last this side of eternity.  After the stress of an international trip and poor sleep for several consecutive nights, I might have hit some speed bumps upon landing here in good ol' Shqiperia.  I had been so concerned with watching out for the kids, that I didn't have my headlights pointed in front of me.

Thankfully we're hitting our stride now.   We are getting into a routine and I'm feeling a bit more like myself again. The bruises aren't so tender...

This is Mandi.  He's our colleague.  He came over to the States to be with Xhesi during her second surgery.  After nine days with her, he came down for a brief visit to take care of some business and see Mom and Dad.  His visit was just the reminder I needed of what was waiting for us on the other side of the Atlantic.

Our last Saturday in the States we hung out at the park with Nathan's family. We had a picnic and played Can Jam.  It was the perfect, relaxed way to spend the day together -- though my ability to throw a frisbee is NOT.  Once again -- SORRY MICAH!  Hopefully you'll draw a better partner next time!

The goal is to hit the can with your frisbee, either directly or deflected in by your team mate.

Once I hit Mom in her wheelchair (with the frisbee) and another time my toss landed perfectly... on the pavilion roof.

True Partners in Crime.

If all crooks were handcuffed together, maybe we'd have less crime?

Then there was church and Sunday lunch out.  More goodbyes by the interstate.

Below, Sunday night with my Grandpa VanOrman

Saying goodbye Grandpa Whiteford on Monday.  He is in hospice.

Then one last goodbye with Grandma 'Ford before heading off to the airport Tuesday.  We sat in her sitting room and she told stories of her childhood in the suburbs of Chicago, moving in with her grandmother during the Depression, and her younger sister suffering from chronic pneumonia one particularly harsh winter. Of visits to her aunt's Swedish bakery in Evanston and studying at Wheaton Academy.  40 years with her and I'm still hearing new stories...

And we're making stories of our own.  On to the next chapter.

Back to School 2015

All across Albania today students are going back to school.

Spiffy clothes.  Fresh hair cuts. Bright, new back packs stocked with all the needed supplies.

Well, probably everyone's children but the Waggoners'. 

Reni makes such a fuss about special clothes and haircuts and given how THRILLED [insert sarcasm] he is about going to a new school, we chose not to fight that battle.

At the grandparents' behest, we took the requisite "first day of school" photo.

I think this (above) adequately sums up Reni's optimism for what Albanian school will be like.  

Because his expression was so glum, I said something funny to illicit a grin because frankly, the photo above is just too depressing.

We all walked together for drop off, passing our neighbors along the way.  At one point, Ellie caught up with a group of teens we know well, all dressed up with perfect hair and clothes, and Ellie asked if she could just go to school with them.
Ha ha.

Reni chided his sister in his typical "know-it-all" voice that it'd all be in Albanian and she wouldn't understand any of it.

The teen girls, understanding his English, all laughed and we were back on our way.

We may have been the first folks to show up at school.  

We were greeted by blaring children's music from a speaker on the front porch, balloons, and the sweet message, "Welcome dear children!"

Right behind us were our Dutch friends with a bouquet of fresh flowers for the teacher and a camera to document the momentous day, the opening of the new school, built with the help of three foundations.

Within minutes of our arrival, family after family began arriving and Reni's confidence began to crumble so we didn't linger.  

After all, he isn't the only Waggoner beginning school today!  As I type, Nathan and Ellie are in the books, going through an overview of everything she will be studying this year.  She is quite excited to dabble in Latin this year and study early civilizations as her year's theme!

We pray that this year both of our children will grow in wisdom (that they will find learning fun), stature (that they will stay healthy and grow), and favor with God (live lives pleasing to him) and man (that they will cultivate good relationships).  Thank you for praying with us.

One Stone

One Stone

You know the expression, "Kill two birds with one stone."

I think it speaks to our desire for efficiency, economy.  No wasting of effort or resources.  When it seems to happen coincidentally, killing 'two birds with one stone' might refer to good luck or fortune -- double the outcome for half the effort (or something like that).

But have you considered God answering two prayers in one way?

_______________

Today marked our second day 'home' in the village.  Ellie had been chomping at the bit to see Squanto (her beloved pet cockatiel), and we had endeavored to retrieve him from "the sitters" the evening before but failed to bring him back Thursday night to his familiar perch on our balcony (our friends happened to be out when we dropped by).

So we muddled through another day of unpacking and settling in, slowly acclimating to the heat a bit better, strategically planning to shift our work to various rooms throughout the day as the sun moved across the sky.  

All thought of relative comfort flew out the window when the power went out for 3.5 hours and our next door (upwind) neighbor conveniently decided it would be a good time to burn her trash.  All windows went closed and we dropped all shades to keep puttering around our apartment re-organizing shelves and emptying suitcases of supplies in clean, if not fan-cooled moving air.

This evening was to be the first church service of the fall season but some folks were still on holiday, a number of our neighbors were seen walking down the hill in formal wear to a wedding, and the traditional text message didn't get out.  Attendance was slim.  Nevertheless it was good to continue greeting old friends and neighbors as we opened the front gates and introduced the village boys to "Can Jam", a frisbee game that Steve and Rachel taught us last Saturday (we managed to pick up a few sets at Target and stuff them in our suitcase at the last minute) while we tried to figure out exactly what time we would begin service.  (The start time is rather fluid, influenced more by the amount of relative daylight and the time of year).

After church Ellie and Reni got permission to go down to Xhesi and Ambra's house to play and get reunited with Squanto while we continued to visit until it was appropriate to close up the center for the evening.

We eventually made it down the hill to hear all about Squanto and Ellie's enthusiastic reunion.  Apparently Ellie had not been forgotten. I wished I had been there to record it!

We went inside and caught up with our friends, discussing current events like the refugee crisis in Macedonia and the mass exodus of Albanians this year to Germany. We also talked about our respective summers and it was reassuring to me that we hadn't completely lost our ability to communicate in Shqip!  

I can't remember exactly at what point in the conversation switched gears to school this fall.  We were proudly told that Xhesi had been hired as a teacher at the Kopsht where Reni would start attending come September 14.  

[insert sound of scratched record]

Wait. I could scarcely believe my ears, but the nods of their heads confirmed that my foggy, jetlagged brain had indeed heard and processed the words correctly.

Xhesi had just completed her degree in education in July.  We have all prayed that she would find a job as employment options for university grads in Albania is pretty bleak. Neither of her parents have consistent work and resources are always stretched thin. 

Now, I was hearing that not only did she have a job, but she would be one of Reni's teachers.  I couldn't keep from tearing up.

All summer we have been lightly approaching the subject of Reni attending Kopsht this fall.  It's a sensitive subject because Ellie longs to attend traditional school (which she can't this year), and Reni hasn't been exactly thrilled about going to a new school alone.  In fact, there have been quite a few tears shed to the point where we have shared our concerns with some of our friends and family this past summer. It broke our hearts to see Reni so fearful, yet as his parents we felt pretty strongly that we needed to push him to do this. 

Now here I was hearing that one of the members of the family he is closest with -- of all the families we know in our entire village -- will be with him every day at school.  When we told him, he raised his arms and started jumping up and down. 

Tonight as we put Reni to bed we tried to express to him how much God loved him and provided for him in this moment of uncertainty. With one fell swoop the giant called "fear" had been defeated. There have been so many moments like this for our Reni that I shouldn't be surprised at God's provision on his behalf, yet here I am again as if it is the first time. 

Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee -- Psalm 63:3

One stone.  David slew a giant with one stone.

Two prayer requests.  One answer.  

Do you have any giants that need slaying?

We're home!

Here we are!  Terminal 5 at O'Hare, ready to leave together this time for Albania (Tuesday night).

(below) About 45 minutes earlier, wrangling all of our baggage onto carts to wheel our stuff up and down levels to get it from the parking lot to the check-in counter.  There is a fourth cart hidden from view/not pictured.

We love Turkish Airlines for a lot of reasons.  For one, they are the most affordable (9 times out of 10); secondly, the itinerary is fantastic for minimizing the effects of jetlag; third, they allow TWO pieces of free checked luggage; and fourth, we learned on this flight, they are very helpful for families that might need a little extra help!

We checked 4 tubs (because these are nearly impossible to buy in Albania and so helpful for storage!), 4 large duffles, and Reni's new AMBUCS tryke.  Though the box was technically over-sized, they graciously didn't charge us the oversize fee.

That left Nathan and I four rolling carry-on duffles and four backpacks (containing two laptops, my camera gear, and Reni's heavy matchbox car collection -- none of it was lightweight) PLUS Reni's stroller to take with us from gate to gate in the airport. Needless to say, once we got to our gates, we didn't leave the area to go explore!  And, we were generally pretty sweaty once we arrived.  While some folks might chide us for taking so much stuff (like an old lady did upon our arrival in Albania), we didn't have the energy to explain that we were most definitely going to use every single available piece of free luggage to take stuff for the next two years.

(Except for the two blocks of cheddar cheese I forgot and left in Mom's freezer, sniff, sniff).

Our flights were pretty uneventful.  We were the first to board on both occasions, which was really, really helpful!

We arrived Wednesday night, minus two boxes.  (It worked to our benefit because by the time we had completed the missing baggage claim, the X-ray scanner at customs had been shut down and we were spared having to load all of our luggage on the scanner for one last check before we were finally free to leave the airport). The next day we unpacked and discovered that all but the shoes we wore on the plane happened to be in those two missing boxes!  (They must have been the last thing we packed!)

Thankfully at 9:45PM on Thursday night we received word that our luggage had made it on the next evening's flight and someone would meet us down at our autostrada exit with the pieces.

There was a collective cheer when Nathan brought them into the apartment!  Thank you, everyone, who prayed for our journey!  He heard your prayers and blessed us with smooth travels.

Please continue to pray for our adjustment.  The heat is slowing us down, especially in the afternoons -- we are planning our house work and unpacking by which rooms are out of the direct sunlight at certain times of day.  While we had food in our freezer and pantry from May, we went out for groceries last night just to enjoy the AC in the car.  

In spite of the fact that the internet has been significantly slower than normal (I have yet to successfully send an e-mail with a single photo attachment), and the power is off for the 2nd time, it's good to be here. :-)